Pre-Summary Talks on Migration and Syria Among EU Leaders
Migration-oriented leaders from many member states gathered in Brussels on Thursday ahead of the European Union meeting to advocate tougher laws and more deportations of irregular migrants. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and leaders from Greece, Hungary, and Poland attended the conference, which Denmark, Italy, and the Netherlands cohosted. Talks focused on Syria, where some countries anticipate the recent exile of Assad would allow Syrian refugees to go back home.
Migration-oriented leaders from many member states gathered in Brussels on Thursday ahead of the European Union meeting to advocate tougher laws and more deportations of irregular migrants. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and leaders from Greece, Hungary, and Poland attended the conference, which Denmark, Italy, and the Netherlands cohosted. Talks focused on Syria, where some countries anticipate the recent exile of Assad would allow Syrian refugees to go back home.
If things in Syria get better, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof proposed working together to repatriate Syrian refugees. Austria has previously declared intentions to investigate returning asylum seekers. Many EU countries have stopped processing Syrian refugee applications since Assad's fall, therefore indicating a change in attitude to migration. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy and others underlined the need of a fast legal system to enable migrant returns. Von der Leyen reassured the group that expected early next year, the European Commission is working on a solution to handle the matter.
Driven by election advances of far-right parties in some EU members, migration is still a divisive issue inside the union. Leaders are cracking down on the matter even although irregular border crossings this year are 40% less than in the 10-year high in 2023. Reflecting the growing impact of migration hardliners inside the EU, the conference in Brussels marks the second informal gathering of its sort; the Netherlands is due to host the next round.
